A group of overseas Chinese language teachers visits Nanjing University's Sculpture Art Research Center. [Photo/Taiwan Affairs Office of Jiangsu]

The Overseas Chinese Language Teachers Cultural Study Camp concluded in Jiangsu on Aug 4, bringing together about 30 Chinese language teachers from countries including the United States, Canada, Malaysia and Thailand.

Over more than a week, the teachers visited Nanjing and Xuzhou in Jiangsu and Qufu in Shandong, taking part in lectures, training and a diverse cultural journey.

Their itinerary included Kunqu Opera and classical Chinese poetry classes, as well as visits to historical sites. They also explored Jiangsu's first AI-themed innovation block, gaining a glimpse into China's latest technological development.

For Zhuang Youchun, who has lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area for 35 years and taught Chinese for 31 years, the experience was highly rewarding. She plans to enrich Chinese classes at overseas schools by adding velvet-flower making, alongside traditional activities such as paper-cutting and dough figurine making.

Kong Ying, who has lived and worked in the United States for nearly 30 years, noted that learning Chinese can be challenging for overseas children due to factors including their language environment, the availability of teaching materials and class frequency. Kong plans to introduce traditional Chinese culture to young learners through more diverse and engaging approaches, rather than focusing solely on Chinese language skills.

Huang Yuzhen from Thailand said she hopes her two sons will have the opportunity to study in China someday. She also hopes her students can visit China to experience its rich history and culture while seeing its rapid advances in science and technology firsthand.